Todd and Edna having been married three years ago have had constant fights. These fights arise primarily as a result of Edna’s unacceptable drinking habits. The couple, in a bid to end their internal feuds decide to bear a child. Will this enable them end their perennial disputes or are there better solutions to child bearing. A close reference to Locke’s writings would help. Edna has a moral obligation to keep sober and fend for her family, something which she miserably fails to do. This proves to be the root source of bickering and fights in her house.
Locke in his views would simply have advised Edna to avoid drinking in order to bring sobriety to her house. Furthermore, morality dictates that one should use reason to make rational decisions. In her intoxicated self, she fails to make informed decisions thus the endless conflicts between her and her husband. In fact, child bearing would be of no help if she does not quit drinking. In addition, it exposes her to the risk of child neglect.
When the mayor of the large city accepts gifts, this may jeopardise his rationality of future awarding of tenders. It is indeed noted that even the prospective contractors treat the mayor with gifts which he does accept. Though it is not immoral to accept gifts, it is unethical for a holder of such an office to accept free gifts from contractors. It may occur in the future award of tenders, he would be biased and awards tenders, not necessarily to the best bidder but to his friends; friends who treated him with gifts.
The mayor, acting in his capacity, should warn himself of deeds which may violate his professional ethics in the present and in the future. As a human being, he should realize that he is prone to mistakes due to the fallibility of human beings. Therefore, he needs to take substantive measure to avoid making such mistakes in the near future. Since accepting gifts and treats from prospective contract bidders may make him biased in his award of tenders, he should refrain from taking such gifts. In any case, these may materialise into bribes.
The college instructor is devoid of professional ethics; she pursues a doctorate at the expense of her students. Given that naturally, her doctorate which she so much desires is supposed to help her students; she uses it against them. Lectures ought to be improved from time to time and exams altered to test the student’s understanding of the concept. She neglects her professional duty and breaches the lecturer’s professional ethics.
The college instructor violates the code of conduct she subscribed to upon admission as an instructor. This is indeed a punishable breach of moral ethic as well as professional ethics. The students should not at any instance suffer the opportunity cost since as stated herein; they are the ones who are meant to benefit from the doctorate that she is undertaking. After all, what is the essence of the doctorate if it is not to improve her service delivery?
Though Locke did his works in the 17th century, his works are still relevant to the post-modern world. His principles of ethics and morality are still a force that steers businesses and drives governments. Morality though not the same as ethics, has so much in common with the latter. Whosoever breaks the ethical conducts most likely breaks moral conduct?
References
Larry, C. (2013, December 31). Principles of Professional Ethics. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from A Framework For Universal Principles of Ethics: http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/papers/invited/colero.html
Nicholas, W. (1999). John Locke and the Ethics of Belief. New York: Cambridge university press.
Sheridan, Patricia. (2012, October 6). Locke's Moral Philosophy. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=locke-moral
Stanford University. (2014, January 12). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from Eyhics v Morals: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Ethics_vs_Morals
Tännsjö, T. (2008). undestanding Ethics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
